College Football Playoff simulation narrowed to Fabulous Four

The quarterfinals of our College Football Playoffs left us with some intriguing match-ups.

Miami-Texas brings us two of the top preseason teams with Texas flying high since Mack Brown inserted Major Applewhite into the lineup. Nebraska-Illinois gives us Midwest championship game and challenges the suspect Cornhusker secondary. Oregon-Florida pits two of the best passing offenses in the land, and Colorado-Stanford gives the Cardinal a chance to prove themselves on a national level.

Gator Bowl: Miami vs. Texas (11:00 AM EST):

Miami jumps out to a 21-7 lead in the first quarter as the Hurricanes score on three straight possessions, one of them setup by a Cedric Benson fumble as he struggled for extra yardage in Miami territory. After two Texas field goals, the score at the half is 21-13. The Longhorns close to within one on the opening drive of the second half and take a two point lead near the end of the third quarter with a long field goal. The fourth quarter, however, belongs to the 'Canes as they break away for two long touchdown scores: one a Ken Dorsey pass to Andre Johnson and the other a 64 yard run by Clinton Portis. Miami 35 Texas 23

Orange Bowl: Nebraska vs. Illinois (2:30 PM EST):

Again Nebraska rolls from the beginning and the Cornhuskers have sealed the game by the middle of the second quarter. A 30-14 halftime lead holds up as Illinois is never close in this game. Kurt Kittner is crushed and crumbled throughout and eventually leaves the game in the fourth quarter with an injury to his non-throwing hand. A late score makes it seem closer than it really was. Nebraska 37 Illinois 21

Cotton Bowl: Stanford vs. Colorado (6:00 PM EST):

A much closer game than expected as Stanford proves they belong with the big boys. Colorado falls behind 10-0 in the first quarter as Stanford has two long drives. They comeback with two touchdowns before halftime to lead 14-13 as the second quarter clock reaches 0:00. The Buff's move quickly in second half, scoring on long touchdown drives on their first two possessions and sandwiching a Stanford field goal. The third quarter ends with Colorado leading 28-16. The Cardinal score early in the fourth quarter to make it a five-point game. With five minutes left Colorado pins Stanford deep in their own territory and end up with a safety. On the ensuing drive, the Buffs almost run out the clock and score with 30 seconds left. Colorado 37 Stanford 23

Holiday Bowl: Florida vs. Oregon (9:30 PM EST):

You could tell from the beginning that Spurrier was expecting a shootout. His first play was a deep post to Taylor Jacobs. He split the safeties and Florida had a 7-0 lead. What Spurrier couldn't have foreseen was the dominance of his defense. Oregon was befuddled from the beginning and only near the end would make the game respectable. The Gators roared out to a 30-0 lead with five minutes left in the first half. Spurrier inserted Brock Berlin early in the second half and the Gators were only able to muster three field goals. The Ducks, however, could never get much together and scored fourteen of their points in the last two minutes as the Ducks scored and then ran back a tipped Berlin pass for a touchdown. Florida 39 Oregon 24

The National College Football semi-finals line up this way:

Sugar Bowl -- New Orleans, Louisiana

Miami vs. Nebraska

Fiesta Bowl -- Tempe, Arizona

Colorado vs. Florida

Interesting games.

We will have the interesting results next Friday.

Later...